Complete Consideration of H.R. 2218 - Empowering Parents through Quality Charter Schools Act (Rep. Hunter - Education and Workforce) The bill authorizes $300 million for FY 2012 and each of the fiscal years through FY 2017 for carrying out the high quality charter school program. The bill amends the existing charter school program to support the startup, replication and expansion of charter schools and consolidate facility financing assistance programs.

The bill makes technical corrections to other provisions in the Charter School Program, including modifying the definition of a charter school to clarify that a charter school can serve early childhood students as well as post-secondary students. The bill also allows the Secretary of Education to operate a start-up competition for charter schools in states that did not win or compete for a State Quality Charter School Grant.

The House completed debate of all amendments on September 8, and there were two amendments that had recorded votes pending. When the House resumes consideration of H.R. 2218, the House will take votes on the following two amendments (as well as the motion to recommit and final passage):

Holt Amendment. Would encourage the Secretary of Education to include a priority for green school building practices in the application for states to ensure that federal investment in charter school facilities would be energy efficient and environmentally friendly

King (IA) Amendment. Would strike the requirement that the performance of poor and minority students and students with disabilities be used to measure the success of a charter school

H.R. 2887 - To provide an extension of surface and air transportation programs (Rep. Mica – Transportation and Infrastructure) Pursuant to a unanimous consent agreement, it will be in order to consider this legislation with one hour of debate, equally divided between the Chair and Ranking member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The UC agreement also allows for one motion to recommit, with or without instructions.

H.R. 2887 would provide an extension for both federal aviation programs, as well as highway and surface transportation programs. The bill would extend certain provisions of surface transportation programs through March 31, 2012. It would also extend federal aviation programs through December 31, 2011. The Republicans did not include any extraneous policy riders, or additional cuts, which caused the FAA shutdown last August. It also does not include back pay for employees of the FAA who were furloughed, due to the shutdown.

The GOP Leadership has announced the following schedule for Wednesday, September 14: The House will meet at 12:00 p.m. for legislative business. The House is expected to consider H.J.Res. 77 - Relating to the disapproval of the President’s exercise of authority to increase the debt limit, as submitted under section 3101A of title 31, United States Code, on August 2, 2011 (Rep. Reed – Ways and Means)

The Daily Quote

“House Republicans may pass bits and pieces of President Barack Obama’s jobs plan, but behind the scenes, some Republicans are becoming worried about giving Obama any victories — even on issues the GOP has supported in the past. And despite public declarations about finding common ground with Obama, some Republicans are privately grumbling that their leaders are being too accommodating with the president.”